Tag Archives: analog

10 Best Analog Desk Essentials Designed To Maximize Small Workspaces

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In a world where technology reigns supreme, and we cannot survive without our digital tools simple analog desk accessories are often ignored. But they do have an undeniable charm and straightforward utility that cannot be overlooked. If you’re someone who has to deal with the constraints of a small workspace or compact desk, then these timeless tools can be a complete lifesaver for you. A collection of well-designed and functional analog desk supplies can create an efficient, organized, and conducive work environment for you. Irrespective if you’re a remote worker, office worker, or student, the right selection of analog accessories can help you maximize your compact workspace to the best. We’ve curated a collection of 10 essential analog desk accessories for you, that will convert your crampy workspace into a comfortable and conducive work environment.

1. Cork Boards and Sticky Notes

Corkboards are always a wonderful addition to a compact workspace since they’re ideal for pinning notes and important reminders. And if they’re portable, they’re all the better, as they can be easily moved or mounted. Portable cork boards function as flexible spaces to neatly organize your thoughts and pin up important information. Today you can even find compact cork boards with multiple functions, allowing them to serve as more than one useful product. Cork boards also can add some character and warmth to your desk.

The sPINmemo Lamp

Named the sPINmemo lamp, this unique lamp combines traditional lamps and multifunctional designs to create an innovative and space-saving solution. Besides lighting up your workdesk, it features a rotating cork body that serves as a unique cork board. You can personalize the cork section with notes, reminders, and photos. It is an interactive element of the lamp, which offers a platform to pin your notes and thoughts. The concealed cavity on top of the lamp can also store your small items, making this a true gem for your small workspace.

What we like

  • The rotating feature ensures your notes and reminders are easily accessible
  • Aesthetically-pleasing design

What we dislike

  • The surface available for pinning is a bit limited, which may be inadequate for some users

2. Multi-Functional EDC for Desk

Tools with multiple functions are a godsend in a compact workspace. If you’re looking to add such tools to your arsenal, you may want to add multi-functional scissors to the list. Multi-functional scissors are pretty essential since they merge cutting capabilities with some additional useful features. They perform their basic duty of cutting but also double up as bottle openers, box cutters, screwdrivers, and more. This makes them versatile products, which eliminate the need for multiple tools, ensuring space is saved, and your desk is organized.

Cut & Slice Scissors

Dubbed the Cut & Slice Scissors, this nifty desk accessory features a sliding mechanism, which pushes one of the blades ahead, creating a handy box cutter, which offers a smooth cutting process. It is equipped with an easy-to-use sliding mechanism, which makes using the cutter a breeze, and also pretty safe to store. You can utilize the scissors handle as a blade handle as well.

Click Here to Buy Now: $29

What we like

  • The scissors have an innovative form with drop-shaped handles in transparent resin
  • Prevents sticky residue from building up, since the blades are coated with fluorine

What we dislike

  • The blade isn’t easily replaceable

3. Whiteboards for brainstorming

When you’re setting up a workspace, a whiteboard is a must-have. It is a versatile tool that is excellent for brainstorming, streamlining your thoughts, and organizing your goals and tasks. Portable and compact versions are great for small spaces, and also great for carrying them with you if you’re working outside the office. These whiteboards occupy minimal space, freeing up desk space for other products and tasks. A whiteboard is often beneficial since it provides a larger writing surface as compared to a notebook or diary. This will help you in properly planning and visualizing your tasks.

Personal Whiteboard

Quite rightly called the Personal Whiteboard, since it has a cute and compact size that makes it easy to use, especially in a small workspace, this unique whiteboard is the perfect product for taking notes and jotting down what’s important. Its easy-to-carry design ensures you can take it with you if you leave the office as well. It features an eraser, letting you easily write things down, erase them, and then write again!

Click Here to Buy Now: $49.00

Personal Whiteboard

What we like

  • Equipped with a Mag Force system
  • Portable design that is no hassle to carry around

What we dislike

  • You cant use a permanent marker on it, only a dry-erase or whiteboard pen

4. Planters to add some Life

Our work desks can often get mundane and dreary, and adding a touch of green works wonders to elevate aesthetics and the work environment. Mini, fun-sized planters are perfect for small desks. These little plant holders add an element of nature to your workspace, without occupying too much space. They’re great at holding small plants like succulents or air plants, and these require minimum maintenance. Adding plants to your workspace can improve quality, elevate your mood and productivity, and bring down stress. They serve as a refreshing element, that will spruce up your desk and mood.

Grovemade Wood Planter

A great way to add green to your desk is by incorporating the Grovemade Wood Planter. It includes a detachable, stainless steel liner cup made from solid walnut or maple hardwood. You can choose between black walnut or hard rock maple hardwood. The planters are available in three sizes – long, wide, and short. Pick the size that suits your working space, and your indoor planter will perfectly fit in.

What we like

  • The planters are meticulously handmade
  • Available in three different sizes

What we dislike

  • There are no drainage holes, which creates the risk of overwatering

5. Miniature Clocks

Analog clocks make for classic, functional, and elegant additions to your desk setup. And the miniature versions are an ideal match for smaller desks. Compact little clocks offer a glance at the time, without the hassle of getting distracted by your digital gadgets. Having a clock helps you manage time better, and eliminates the temptation of checking your phone for the time, which can get you distracted and lead to some doom scrolling on Instagram. A well-designed analog clock can also add some style and elegance to your desk.

Rolling World Clock

Named the Rolling World Clock, this one-hand device doesn’t simply tell the time of your city, but different countries as well. It is a boon if you work on international time, helping you deal with different clients in different time zones. It has a clean and sleek ethos, which allows it to serve as a visually pleasing addition to your compact workdesk.

Click Here to Buy Now: $49.00

What we like

  • Reduces the need to check your phone for the time
  • Makes time-telling a simple and joyful affair

What we dislike

  • The clock only includes 12 time zones, so you will need to calculate the time zones outside the clock’s interface

6. Space-Saving Pen Holders

A sleek and compact pen holder is important for your desk. It ensures your pens and other writing tools are organized and easily accessible. Choosing a vertical and space-saving design can ensure that precious real estate isn’t occupied by it. If you pick the right pen holder, it will keep your pens organized and tidy, ensuring they don’t roll off your desk or get lost easily. A well-designed pen holder also adds an aesthetic and sleek element to your desk space.

Serenity Pen Stand

Named the Serenity Pen Stand, this unique pen holder has a compact and minimal form with a lovely metallic touch. It offers easy and constant access to your pen, safeguarding it, and never letting you lose track of it. It is built from aluminum and copper and features a well-balanced cylinder. The aesthetically pleasing and space-saving pen stand adds a dash of color and character to your sturdy desk.

Click Here to Buy Now: $39

What we like

  • Features a heavy copper bottom which provides it with a stable form
  • Sleek, minimal, and aesthetically pleasing design

What we dislike

  • Pretty small in size, so you may misplace the pen stand if you’re careless

7. Pens and More Writing Instruments

Working in a small workspace, you need everything to be small and sleek. You need reliable and elegant writing tools. If you choose sleek pens, you’re in for a treat, since they merge functionality with a sophisticated design, making them an excellent addition to your workdesk. These pens make your writing experiences smooth and seamless while adding some elegance and charm to your desk. Since they’re sleek and streamlined, they occupy minimum space and are also easily accessible.

Stilform INK

Say hello to Stilform INK, this award-winning fountain pen features a unique self-aligning cap and a brand-new mechanism. The new version is made in DLC-coated aluminum. By giving the cap a simple twist, it automatically gets pushed off by a strong magnetic force, making the pen pretty easy to handle. Since the pen features a unique magnetic closure, the distinctive flat sides along the pen will always align perfectly.

What we like

  • It also serves as a fidget toy
  • Offers the most comfortable holding position

What we dislike

  • The magnetic mechanism may not appeal to everyone, certain users may want the traditional click or twist mechanisms

8. Compact Notebooks & Journals

Note-taking is something we have now confined to digital note-taking apps, but there is something truly therapeutic and powerful about using a pen and paper to jot down your thoughts and ideas. The mundane yet humble notebook is always an excellent choice to note down your thoughts and create a streamlined vision. A notebook that is compact yet sturdy is a great option to add to your arsenal of analog desk accessories. Not to mention, writing by hand encourages creativity, and improves memory retention, ensuring you don’t forget important details and points.

The Passion Planner

Say hello to the Passion Planner – the one space for all your thoughts and ideas. The Passion Planner isn’t simply an ordinary notebook, it goes one step ahead – it includes an appointment calendar, goal-setting guide, sketchbook, journal, and personal and work-to-do list. It was created keeping your personal goals and passions in mind, allowing you to create the ideal balance between personal reflection, goal setting, and functionality. It has a slim all-black aesthetic ensuring it occupies minimal space which is what you need in a small workspace, and merges with any kind of desk aesthetic.

What we like

  • Equipped with a durable and low profile soft faux leather cover with an elastic enclosure strap

What we dislike

  • The visioning place of the notebook is a tad bit small
  • The design of the planner may be a bit boring for those who prefer more colorful aesthetics

9. Multi-Functional Desk Organizers

Maintaining a neat workspace can often be difficult, but this is where multi-functional and nifty desk organizers come in. These organizers often feature multiple compartments which hold and organize your different belongings. A handy desk organizer can carefully segregate and store your pens, paper clips, sticky notes, etc. Organizers are great at reducing clutter and ensuring you find what you need with ease, so you don’t need to worry too much about losing your favorite stationery items.

Inbox Tray Trio

Named the Inbox Tray Trio desk organizer, this aesthetic-looking flexible leather organizer includes multiple leather trays that will organize your desk, while adding some style to it. Designed by hardgraft, each tray features a leather and felted wool insert or lid that can be utilized as dividers. It allows you to place important notes and letters at the bottom, and store paper clips and pens on the top, providing plenty of storage space, which is a boon for small workspaces.

What we like

  • Features small trays to hold the tiny accessories and tools
  • Made using stunning vegetable-tanned leather

What we dislike

  • An expensive price point, that may not be preferred by the budget-conscious customer

10. Foldable Lamps

When you’re working at a desk, proper lighting is extremely important. As useful as traditional desk lamps can be, they almost always occupy a significant amount of space. To ensure most of your desk space isn’t occupied by your lighting of choice, you can opt for foldable lamps. Foldable lamps offer sufficient lighting, without taking up much space on your desk. A foldable lamp will reduce your eye strain, and enhance your focus while giving you the luxury to adjust it to cater to your different working requirements. Foldable lamps are also portable, which is useful if you often work remotely.

R9 Desk Lamp

The R9 Desk lamp is created especially for creative individuals and designers. It provides precise lighting, especially in circumstances where natural light is limited. It features adjustable custom-made LEDs, which offer precise color rendering and versatile illumination, which is much-needed for detailed artwork. It features a lightweight and foldable design, which is great for small workspaces, as it doesn’t occupy much real estate.

What we like

  • Users can customize the lighting to their preferences
  • Offers exceptional color accuracy

What we dislike

  • It is a niche product intended for artists and creative professionals, and may not cater to the general users

The post 10 Best Analog Desk Essentials Designed To Maximize Small Workspaces first appeared on Yanko Design.

Gudetama 35mm camera lets you embrace basic analog photography

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Gudetama is one of my favorite Sanrio characters as I find that I relate a lot to it even though it’s an anthropomorphic egg yolk. I’ve watched its “Eggcelent Adventures” on Netflix and I also collect various stationary stuff featuring this lazy ennui-filled cute egg. I’m not alone in this obsession as the character has 852,000 followers on Instagram and has probably sold a lot of Sanrio merch as well.

Designer: Retrospekt for Sanrio

Another Gen Z thing that has been trending lately is a throwback to 35mm digital cameras. And no one does retro tech products better than Retrospekt. Their latest collaboration with Sanrio is the limited edition Gudetama Restrospekt FC-11 35mm Film Camera which has the egg yolk character on center stage, or rather, center camera. The camera has a silicone lens cap and the body has faux leather artwork with the different Gudetama versions.

It is a pretty simple point-and-shoot camera with a 1m fixed-focus lens and built-in optional flash. All you have to do is look through the viewfinder, line up your shot, press the shutter button, and then get your 35mm film developed in your favorite film developing shop. It’s just like any other 35mm film camera except you have the Gudetama butt staring at you when you look into the viewfinder.

The camera has a 200-400 ISO with a 31mm f/9 lens and 1/120 second shutter speed. It’s pretty light as it only weighs 122g and may even be lighter than your smartphone. It’s pretty cute that kids these days are enjoying taking analog photos and having cute cameras like this one adds to the appeal.

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Sidekick Notepad is a simple writing tool for the digital/analog hybrid workers

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Over the years I have learned to embrace a digital + analog hybrid workflow process. While most of my work goes straight to the computer, tablet, or mobile phone that I’m working on at the moment, I still like having a pen and paper with me at all times to jot down things I’m thinking about or things I need to do. There’s something therapeutic about writing it down rather than just typing it out so products that can give me that convenience are always welcome.

Designer: Cortex

The Sidekick Notepad is basically a writing pad where you can jot things down while having a meeting or while doing your normal, every day tasks. It is designed to fit either above or under your keyboard and is meant to be your “sidekick” if you’re like me that sometimes likes to put her to-do list on paper rather than on pixels. There’s a section to put the date, a huge section for notes, and then on the side, there’s a to-do list section with checkboxes so it’s easier to tick things off.

It’s not meant to be like a journal where you keep it even after the tasks or notes have served their purpose. It’s a tear-away kind of pad where you can just tear it off and then throw it (or compile it somewhere else if that’s your thing). You can also scan your notes for posterity and then save it on your preferred notes app. It doesn’t seem to have a dedicated app that can automatically scan and store things for you so you have to do it the manual way.

The Sidekick Notepad has 60 pages of Munken Lynx paper so if you run out, you’ll have to buy a new notepad since it’s not refillable. The cover is made from something called “Extract”, a paper made from recycled coffee cups. This adds another layer of things that I love so this product seems to be created especially for people like me who still can’t let go of the analog stuff.

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Kodak Super 8 film camera revival is finally happening but there’s a huge catch

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The Super 8 film camera has become an important part of photography history, particularly when it comes to cinematography. The distinctive design of the camera and its unique format inspired many amateurs who would later become industry veterans, and that legacy is fondly remembered and even commemorated in a 2011 movie bearing the camera’s very name. Not long after that film was released, Kodak, whose name has become closely associated with the camera, announced a new version of this beloved camera that sticks true to its unique analog experience while adding a few digital conveniences. Almost 8 years later, that camera might finally be ready to roll, but it seems that very few fans will actually be able to get their hands on it.

Designer: Kodak

The Super 8 camera can probably be credited for giving birth to home movies that are now made using smartphones. Making motion picture cameras more accessible to the masses helped aspiring moviemakers get started without having to burn through their savings. Although Super 8 cameras are actually still available today, they are already considered vintage by today’s standards, especially because of their use of physical film. That said, a faithful Super 8 successor won’t be able to win hearts unless it also stays true to that format and medium.

That’s exactly what Kodak was going for when it revealed plans to upgrade the Super 8 camera back in 2016 at CES. It would still be a film camera like its predecessors, but it would add a few convenient features taken from digital cameras. The new Super 8 would also retain the same basic shape, especially the gun-like pistol grip that has become iconic of the camera’s design. There’s an addition of a top handle with an integrated run button for more difficult angles. It does modernize the aesthetic, though, adopting a more industrial appearance with plenty of flat planes and sharp angles. It is a look that’s both fresh and new yet still unambiguously Super 8.

As for those modern conveniences, it sports a 4-inch LCD swiveling viewfinder, similar to all video cameras today. It comes with a detachable wide-angle 6mm 1:1.2 C-mount lens, so you can actually use any other C-mount prime lens or adapters, depending on what you need. There’s an SD card reader for recording audio directly into storage, as well as a micro HDMI port for connecting an external monitor. Ironically, despite all the new hardware, the camera still charges with an old and slow micro USB connection. And yes, it still shoots on analog film, so you’ll need to make sure to have a stock of KODAK’s Super 8 cartridges at hand.

Given how long ago the announcement was, there were perhaps some doubts about whether Kodak would actually be able to pull this off at all. The good news is that Kodak has finally opened up sign-ups, with shipping expected to start next month. The bad news is that, in addition to limited availability, the price tag for this new Kodak Super 8 film camera is a whopping $5,495, more than twice the announced SRP back in 2016. This immediately puts it out of the reach of all but the most dedicated collectors, a rather disappointing U-turn for a camera that originally catered to amateurs and aspiring moviemakers.

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This striking cyberpunk watch concept is ironically analog at heart

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Thanks to a certain video game and its recent animated Netflix tie-in, the cyberpunk style has become trendy again. Industrial designs mixed with glowing neon colors portray a vision of the future that is a little too bleak for comfort but almost realistic in its probability. As a genre, cyberpunk is set in a dystopian future where technology has advanced significantly but has left human morality and evolution behind in its dust. Many product designs and concepts today that tap into that style try to convey the spirit of this age through various gimmicks, many of them as advanced as the technologies they try to represent. This watch, inspired by the Cyberpunk 2077 game, however, bucks the trend and embraces one of the oldest yet most sophisticated ways to tell the time.

Designers: Michael Szczególski, Bartosz Wyżykowski, Piotr Blicharski, and Jacek Morawski

If you were to design a cyberpunk-themed watch, you would most likely try to implement it through digital and electronic components, perhaps even as a smartwatch. After all, it’s so much easier to style screens, implement advanced features, and even emit sounds using modern components. In stark contrast, this Cyberpunk 2077 watch concept doesn’t have anything digital, an ironic idea yet almost perfectly fitting considering the confusing mix of old and new that cyberpunk is famous for.

Instead of an LCD display, the watch works pretty much like an analog watch, except it trades typical hands for rotating discs that have marks for seconds, minutes, and hours. Its beating heart is a real-world 9015 Miyota automatic caliber, whose ruby movement is used to represent the cybernetic eye of an emblem on its back. The watch wraps around your wrists using silicone straps that, while mundane, are more faithful to the fictional world of Cyberpunk 2077 than more “advanced” materials.

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Since the watch is pretty much a mechanical one dressed up in a cyberpunk style, its personalization options are limited. Instead of changing watch faces as you would on a smartwatch, you can only swap out interchangeable fronts and backs to match different characters from the fictional franchise. That still leaves the door open for plenty of customization, especially when you consider these parts can be 3D printed easily.

Unfortunately for Cyberpunk 2077 fans, this watch remains a concept, even if it was designed with the game’s creators’ input. It’s definitely an attractive and unique twist to the typical cyberpunk-themed timepiece, one that could potentially satisfy even lovers of mechanical watches. It does show that just because it looks cyberpunk doesn’t mean it has to be complicated, though the beautiful simplicity of this watch’s design is itself almost contradictory to the usual mess of the genre.

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Slope is an analog writing tool and organizer that takes your note-making to the next level

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As someone who loves combining digital and analog elements in my workflow, you’ll even find my desk filled with my laptop, tablet, various notebooks, and of course the ubiquitous sticky notes. So you might say my workspace can become a little cluttered. While this works for me (well at least most of the time), there might be people who would prefer a less messy space and go more minimalist. While just using your desktop may be the key, there are still times when you need to write down things and normally, stick notes are the way to go.

Designer: FluidStance

But if you want to try and eliminate more disposable paper products in your life, there are tools out there trying to help you declutter. The Slope is a “personal desktop whiteboard with pen” that you can slot right in between your monitor and your keyboard. So yes, it is simply a magnetic dry-erase whiteboard but instead of being on your wall or on the side, it is right in front of you and angled in such a way that it is perfect for your list-making or reminder-listing writing needs.

It is made from bent steel sheet and is powder-coated so it’s pretty smooth and easy to use as well as giving you a premium dry-erase surface. It is also magnetic so you can attach your whiteboard markers if they’re magnetic. If not, there’s a space at the top to place them as well as space at the back to store your separate eraser. There’s a silicone phone holder if you need to have your mobile device in front of you and there’s also an opening in it so you can place your charger.

If you’re not using your keyboard, you can slip it under the sloped whiteboard so you can have space to eat or for your other stuff while taking a break. It’s a simple enough thing to use although I would prefer it if there was a way you could save what you were writing into the cloud or if you could digitize it if you need to save what you wrote. But as an analog tool, it’s something interesting for the desktop users out there who have a separate monitor and keyboard.

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This nap timer concept marries simple analog controls with a digital display

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Most of us probably like taking naps during the day. Some people might even find it necessary to get through a tiring workday. There are studies suggesting that even a 20 to 30-minute “power nap” can be beneficial to productivity, though the problem is getting that amount of time right without undercutting or overspending. We have alarm clocks for that, of course, including the ones that can be found on our smartphones. Despite the proliferation of these general-purpose utilities, there’s still something to be said for a specialized tool dedicated solely to counting down the minutes until you wake up. Especially when said tool is a beautiful throwback to the past with some modern conveniences thrown in as well.

Designer: Andrea Senatori

We have plenty of timers and clocks around our house or, at the very least, in our pockets. Most probably use their smartphones for anything that needs counting down or up, while some might have a separate alarm clock beside their bed, set to ring on one or a few specific times in a day. A dedicated nap timer, however, offers simplicity and ease of use. There are no other functions to worry about or other timers you might get confused with. Simply set the timer when you want to take a nap, and that’s it.

It doesn’t get simpler than what the Spot 2 concept brings. It has one purpose and one purpose only, to ring an alarm after a specified period of time. Its controls are dead simple, too. There’s one large dial to set how long the timer goes and a smaller one for controlling the volume. These are presented as analog controls, so there’s absolutely no ambiguity in how they work.

This mix of analog with digital has both aesthetic and psychological aspects. The latter brings back familiar physical controls, putting the power back under our fingertips. At the same time, the nap timer looks interesting and attractive, especially with the ongoing trend to create retro-looking products. It isn’t all old-school, of course, with a monochrome display that prominently shows the timer as well as other details like the date, time, and even the temperature.

The Spot 2 nap timer concept is simple yet effective in conveying its purpose in an interesting yet easy-to-use manner. The dials leave little to the imagination in how to control the device, while the digital display distills information down to only the most essential parts. After all, when you’re body’s craving a short nap, the last thing you want to do is fiddle with your phone or alarm clock and have your brain too distracted or too engaged to sleep.

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This digital diary design adds an analog and retro twist to journaling

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As someone who’s a huge fan of journaling, I’m always on the lookout for things that can help me in my journey, whether it’s analog or digital. For the past years, we’ve seen products and devices that are trying to be a little bit of both. And there are people who enjoy both kinds of journaling as well so you know that there’s a market for that. Just in case you don’t know anything about journaling, you can probably recognize it by its more old-school name: diary.

Designer: Seongmin Ha, Hanyoung Lee

This concept called Dear my diary is a great combination of analog and sort-of digital. Some people who journal like the idea of actually writing down their thoughts and feelings but the problem is storage. You’ll have to scan each page and save them on a cloud to be able to “save” a copy of your journal entries. But what if you could combine both? So the designers came up with something that lets you write in an analog manner but also lets you store it digitally.

The device looks like a classic computer but instead of a keyboard, you get a small, erasable slate where you can write your journal entries. These are then saved into a tiny disk, designed to look like the floppy disks of olden times but much smaller. It’s not indicated how much megabytes or gigabytes storage each of the disks have, what format these will be saved in, or if you’ll be able to access these files on other devices.

The Dear my diary also comes with a printer, in case you wanted to print out your journal entries and post them on your cork board or on your other analog, actual journal. The disk is inserted into the printer and you’ll be able to have a printed copy of what you wrote on the slate but on a specific format that the printer has. It looks like one of those thermal printers that you use for labeling and well, printing stuff.

I still don’t have an idea how this diary device will actually work in real life but I am very much intrigued. Given that I keep both a digital diary and an actual journal, I am definitely the target market for something like this.

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Using natural objects like stones, this Application Programming Interface communicates with any software

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Palpable is an Application Programming Interface (API) that merges modern-day technologies with the charm of an analog interface.

While there are many differences between today’s generations, the shift from analog devices to touchscreen has to be the most striking. While our parents are busy figuring out how to watch Netflix on the smart TV, we’re out buying vinyl records and old-school stereo systems.

We grew up on touchscreens and devices that kept all of our sources of entertainment in one place, but holding actual records in your two hands or turning the volume knob to full-blast on the stereo still charms us. Merging modern technology with the tangible sensation of analog devices, a team of designers created Palpable, a modular, analog interface that can communicate with any software.

Each module that comprises Palpable carries its own function and the inputs of each module are assigned to an Application Programming Interface (API), or base grid. Depending on the software that the user would like to control, different modules are designed to cater to that software. For instance, a sliding module is lengthy by design and allows users to control home appliances like light dimmers. Then, a rotating module might be used to control an entertainment system’s volume.

Whichever appliance needs controlling, Palpable comes with a slide, rotate, push, and turn module. In order for appliances to register each module’s operation, users must attach each module to a magnetic base grid. This is the main control panel for Palpable users, where they can access each module and control its corresponding appliance. Modular by design, the base grids can even be attached to each other to enlarge control panels.

Designers: Maxime le Grelle, Vladyslav Hreben, Max Shpak, & Roman Kravchenko

Each module provides a different function for the API, allowing users to rotate, slide, turn, and push when appropriate.

The team of designers outfitted each module with a unique rock to give it an organic appeal.

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This Custom Pac-Man Synthesizer Looks A-maze-ing

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You know what? I’m surprised that they never came up with a vaccine for Pac-Man Fever. I mean, I’ve had it for nearly four decades, and it’s not getting any better. I suppose if you’re still a Pac-Man fan like me, you might want something like this sweet Pac-Man-themed synthesizer by Swedish artist and vintage gadget fan Love Hultén.

The custom-built synthesizer is done up in a vibrant color scheme inspired by Namco’s classic maze game. The customized Korg Minilogue synth has Pac-Man yellow keys with orange sharps and flats. Its case has a Pac-Man logo and ghost artwork straight from the game’s original arcade cabinet, and there are other little details like cherries on the keyboard and a pair of blue ghosts with light-up eyes being chased by Pac-Man. Check it out in action and give it a listen in the video below:

Surprisingly, this isn’t the only Pac-Man synthesizer that Hultén has built. He also created a custom synth with a yellow case and blue keys, presumably on Opposite Day.

If you love the retro-modernist look of these pieces, be sure to check out Love’s Instagram page and website for more awesome custom electronic gear.